Automatic fire-escape



(No Model.)

P.A.B0NE. AUTOMATIG'PIRE ESCAPE.

Patente'deb. 1o', 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. BONE, OF LEBANON, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,076, dated February 10, 1885. Application filed May 12, 1884. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK A. BONE, of Lebanon, in the county of Varren and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Fire-Escapes, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis an isometric view ofmy improved fire-escape, and Fig. 2 is acentral vertical see tion of the governor of same.

rlhe object of my invention is to provide a portable or stationary fire-escape which can be yeasily attached to the opening or window of a building, and which is automatic in its action, and therefore requires no vprevious practice or knowledge to operate it.

My invention consists ofafra1ne,A, ofsuitalble material, near the center of which is an axis, B, which revolves Vfreely in the frame. Firmly attached to the aXis is the roller D, which has two V-shaped grooves, C G, in it. The said grooves are slightly notched on each side to prevent the rope which passes over them from slipping; also, rmly attached to the axis is the center of the governor E, which is composed of a star-shaped center, f, on each side of which is fastened a disk of sheet metal, one side being shown at E, Fig. l. Outside of the centerfand between the disks of sheet metal are placed loosely three or more pieces of metal, g g g, their thickness being a little less than the center j'.

Placed around the revolving part of the governor above described is the strap of metal H It h, which is fastened by the projections la k at the top and bottom to the frame A. The

strap H is lined on the inside with leather or other suitable material and acts as a brake to regulate the speed of the governor. At the bottom of the frame A are two longitudinal holes, J J, and a circular groove, L, for the rope I to pass through and around.

The rope I, of cotton, wire, or other suitable material, is made ofthe length it is desired to descend. The rope passes up through one of the holes in the bottom and around the roller, thenacross down around the groove in the bottom of the frame, then across and around the roller again and down through the opposite hole. A belt, M M, with a snap, is

attached to each end of the rope. The hole N in the top of the frame is for the purpose of fastening the fire-escape to the building by means of a hook` or Otherwise. It isoperated as follows: The escape being fastened securely to the building, in case'of lire it is only necessary for the person who wishes to descend to snap the belt (which is at the top) about his body and swing out ot' the window, and he will descend at an easy and regular speed to the ground in safety, and then the other end of the rope,with belt, will be at the top ready for another to use immediately if he wishes, and thus many can descend in rapid succes,- sion by simply placing the belt which cornes to the top about their bodies and letting themselves go. The reason of the regular rate of descent is that the weight of the body on one end of the rope causes the governor E to revolve rapidly, and the centrifugal force, together with the fact that the centerf is starshaped,causes the freely-moving pieces g g g, to press outward against the iixed band H which acts as a brake, and thus regulates the speed of descent to a safe rate.

What I claim as new isl. In fire-escapes, the governor E, with its revolving star-shaped centerf, freely moving blocks g g g, circular metal sides E, and xed band or brake H, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth. Y

2. The combination ofthe frame A, having the two longitudinal holes J J and circular groove L in the bottom, with the axis B and roller I), having two V shaped notched grooves, C C, with governor E, having a re volving center, f, freely-moving blocks g g g, and baud or brake H, firmly fixed to the frame A, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

8. The combination of the frame A, having the longitudinal holes J J and circular groove L, with the rope I, having a belt, M M, at each end and passing through the frame A and around the roller D, with the roller D, axis B, governor E, centerf, blocks gg g, and band H, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth. Y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of witnesses.

FRANK A. BONE. Witnesses: M. A. JnMEsoN, JOHANN GEO. MEssEMEE.

ICO 

